The 6th Tashkent International Marathon BYD will take place on April 21.

The day before the 6th Tashkent International Marathon BYD, a press briefing took place at the conference hall of the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan. The briefing aimed to discuss the meticulous preparations underway for one of Central Asia's most prominent international sporting events.

On April 21, Tashkent will welcome approximately 5,000 passionate runners and elite athletes from 45 countries worldwide. Continuing its tradition, the Tashkent International Marathon brings together top-tier runners from neighboring regions, vying for the marathon's prestigious prize of 720 million soums. This year marks a historic milestone as additional incentives are introduced for breaking track records, with 15 million soums awarded for the marathon distance and 10 million soums for the half-marathon, a first in the marathon's history.

The 6th Tashkent International Marathon BYD features a diverse program comprising four distinct distances: 3 km and 10 km runs, a half-marathon spanning 21 km, and a full marathon covering 42 km. Preceding the main event, on April 20, the Uzbekistan Athletics Federation hosted the Kids Run and Nordic Walking races. Over 300 participants, ranging from 7 to 70 years old, including individuals with disabilities, took part in these inclusive races.

The organizers of the marathon are the administration of the city of Tashkent, the Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Agency for Youth Affairs, the Federation of Trade Unions, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and the Uzbekistan Athletics Federation.

The title partner of the 6th International Tashkent Marathon, BYD Company, provides 2 cars for awarding the top athletes from Uzbekistan within the framework of the Uzbekistan Championship program for the half-marathon and marathon.

The sports event coordinator for the sixth time is the Athletics Federation of the Republic of Uzbekistan together with the Central Asian Athletics Association.

Kamoliddin Ruzamukhammadov, the General Secretary of the Athletics Federation, remarked, "At the outset of the Tashkent Marathon, the 3 km run emerged as one of the most favored distances. It offers an accessible and straightforward option for nearly everyone, without notable limitations. Today, at the 6th Tashkent International Marathon BYD, the slots available for the 10 km distance nearly match those of the 3 km distance. This signifies a remarkable advancement in mass sports within Uzbekistan. Running not only brings joy but also holds numerous health benefits. Participants embrace challenges and adeptly conquer progressively longer distances."

During the press conference, it was emphasized that the Tashkent Marathon serves as a crucial international platform for advocating running and fostering a healthy lifestyle, extending its influence not only within Uzbekistan but also across borders – into Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Annually, delegations from running clubs in these nations convene in Tashkent, showcasing collaborative endeavors in promoting sports engagement and wellness practices.

The marathon is included in the World Athletics event calendar and has the official status of World Athletics Label. The route of the Tashkent International Marathon has been certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS). A foreign technical delegate from South Africa, Norrie Williamson, will be present at the event to assess the organization and conduct the prestigious running competition in accordance with international requirements. Athletes who achieve the Olympic standard time will receive a license to participate in the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The marathon will be held under strict anti-doping control supervised by international doping officers.

The Tashkent Marathon is gaining increasing popularity among corporate companies and organizations. More than 70 major companies and organizations of Uzbekistan, NGOs, and universities have applied to participate in the marathon as corporate teams. Among them are Murad Buildings, Astana Motors, Shayana Farm LLC, Pure Milky, TBS banks, Kapitalbank, Tenge Bank, Ipak Yuli Bank, National Bank of Uzbekistan, Webster, Amity, Inha universities, Navoiyazot JSC, AGMK, Zakovat intellectual club, and others.

This year, the marathon partners are the Hayat Medical Center, the dairy products manufacturer Kalleh, and the bottled water manufacturer A'SU company RG Brands.

Approximately 200 volunteers have been involved in organizing the sports event. On the day of the marathon, they will participate in the opening and award ceremonies, ensure order on the track, and provide support to the participants during the race.

To encourage and maintain leaders in amateur sports, the organizers proposed awarding the III adult sports category to each marathon participant who completes the 42 km distance within 6 hours. This proposal applies to all participants, regardless of their status as professional athletes or amateurs. It is noted that enthusiasts actively engaged in mass sports serve as examples for beginners in running and make a significant contribution to maintaining a healthy lifestyle in society.

On April 21, elite runners, winners of international marathons, will take to the starting line: Ekaterina Tunguskova, Ilya Tyapkin, Anna Kavalyova, Rinas Akhmadeev, Andrey Petrov, Maria Korobitskaya, Marina Khmelevskaya, Katerina Vasilychenko, Vincent Kimutai Boit, Shokhrukh Davlatov, and others.

The traditional venue for the 6th Tashkent International Marathon BYD will be the start-finish area at the Humo Arena.

Marathon social media pages:

Instagram: @tmmarathon

Facebook: @tmmarathon